ANOTHER W&J ASSISTANT CHOSEN TO LEAD DIII WOMEN’S HOOP PROGRAM (5/3)
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- For the second consecutive week, a Washington & Jefferson College assistant women’s basketball coach has earned a NCAA Division III head coaching position as Michelle Filander was selected to take over the program at Austin College (Texas).
Filander’s hiring follows Katie Tetzlaw who was selected last week as the head women’s basketball coach at Keystone College (Pa.) after spending three seasons on W&J Head Coach Jina DeRubbo’s staff.
Filander returned for her second stint as an assistant coach at W&J this winter and helped the Presidents post a 23-5 record and earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
She first served as the Presidents’ assistant women’s basketball coach from 2004-2007 before taking a job in Florida for two year. W&J had an 86-26 overall record (.768) with Filander as a member of the coaching staff.
“It was great having Michelle back this past season, but I am happy she has an opportunity to run a program on her own,” said DeRubbo. “Austin College is getting a very good coach and our players and coaches wish her good luck.”
Filander, who is married to 1999 W&J graduate Bob Filander, a former water polo and swimming and diving student-athlete and coach, will also serve as Austin College’s Senior Women’s Administrator.
Austin College is a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
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W&J ASSISTANT BASKETBALL COACH HIRED AT KEYSTONE COLLEGE (4/27)
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College assistant coach Katie Tetzlaw was recently named the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Keystone College.
Tetzlaw spent the last three seasons as the top assistant under W&J Head Coach Jina DeRubbo. The Presidents posted a 70-17 record (.805) during her time on campus and made appearances in the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Division III Tournaments.
“Katie worked hard to reach this point in her career and we are very happy for her,” said DeRubbo. “We wish her all the best at Keystone.”
Tetzlaw, a graduate of North Catholic High School and Bethany College, spent two years as an assistant coach at Allegheny College prior to her arrival at W&J.
Keystone College is located in La Plume, Pa., and is a member of the Colonial States Athletic Conference.
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W&J POINT GUARD KENNAN KILLEEN NAMED DIII NEWS ALL-AMERICAN (3/24)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College 5-foot-5 senior point guard Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) was recently named to the Women’s DIII News Basketball All-America Team. Killeen was an honorable-mention selection.
Killeen concluded her career as one of the top point guards in W&J history. She earned First Team ECAC South All-Star, First Team All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference and Second Team D3hoops.com All-Great Lakes Region accolades after leading the Presidents to a 23-5 record this winter. W&J earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
Killeen helped W&J post a 90-26 record (.776) over the past four years, including a 45-9 mark (.833) in the PAC. Washington & Jefferson made four postseason appearances (two NCAA, two ECAC) and won the 2008 ECAC Division III South Championship under her direction.
She averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds as a senior. Killeen led the conference and ranked 37th nationally with a 1.60 assist-to-turnover ratio. She also helped W&J rank fourth in the country in free throw percentage (76.8) and sixth in fewest turnovers (14.2 tpg).
Killeen shot 78 percent from the free throw line this year and ended her career as the ninth-best career free throw shooter in NCAA Division III history at 85.6 percent (339-of-396).
The 2010 PAC Player of the Year was a four-time, all-conference choice. She earned second-team honors during each of her first three seasons and was a first-team choice in 2010.
She made 113 appearances in a W&J uniform and is third on the school’s all-time assist list (440). She also ranks eighth in Washington & Jefferson history with 1,189 points.
Women’s DIII News is a monthly newsletter covering NCAA Division III women’s basketball.
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KENNAN KILLEEN AND MAGGIE GIBSON EARN POSTSEASON LAURELS (3/17)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College seniors Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) {right} and Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) {below} were both selected to women’s basketball team all-region and all-star teams this week.
Killeen, a 5-foot-5 point guard, was a First Team ECAC South All-Star and a Second Team D3hoops.com All-Great Lakes Region choice. Gibson was named to both teams as a third-team selection.
Killeen and Gibson helped W&J post a 90-26 record (.776) over the past four years, including a 45-9 mark (.833) in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. Washington & Jefferson made four postseason appearances (two NCAA, two ECAC) and won the 2008 ECAC Division III South Championship under their leadership. This season, W&J finished with a 23-5 overall record and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Killeen, the 2010 PAC Player of the Year, earned four all-conference awards. She was a second-team honoree in each of her first three seasons and a first-team choice in 2010. She averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds this winter. Killeen led the conference and ranked 37th nationally with a 1.60 assist-to-turnover ratio. She also helped W&J rank fourth in the country in free throw percentage (76.8) and sixth in fewest turnovers (14.2 tpg).
Killeen shot 78 percent from the free throw line this winter and ended her career as the ninth-best career free throw shooter in NCAA Division III history at 85.6 percent (339-of-396).
She made 113 appearances in a W&J uniform and is third on the school’s all-time assist list (440). She is also the eighth-leading scorer in Washington & Jefferson history with 1,189 points.
Gibson is making return appearances on both D3hoops.com and ECAC teams after being selected last year as well.
Gibson concluded her record-breaking career with her third First Team All-PAC award. She also earned second-team accolades as a freshman.
The 6-foot-0 forward became the first women’s basketball player in school history to amass 1,000 points and rebounds during a career. She contributed 11.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks per game this season.
Gibson set a school record by playing in all 116 games over the past four seasons, including 114 starts. She collected a school-record 1,125 rebounds and scored 1,166 points (9th in W&J history). Gibson shot 54 percent (451-of-843) throughout her career and ranks 15th in NCAA Division III history with 37 double-double performances.
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W&J’S KILLEEN ENDS HER CAREER AMONG TOP FREE THROW SHOOTERS IN NCAA HISTORY (3/9)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College senior point guard Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon), the 2010 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, finished her career with the ninth-best free throw shooting percentage in NCAA Division III women’s basketball history.
Killeen, who also ended her career eighth on W&J’s all-time scoring list with 1,189 points, shot 85.6 percent (339-of-396) from the line during her four-year career at W&J.
Anderson’s (Ind.) Angel Hall, a 2004 graduate, is the top free throw shooter in NCAA Division III history after shooting 89.5 percent (323-of-361) from the line .
In 113 career games with the Presidents, Killeen was a 40 percent (405-of-1,005) field goal shooter. She also knocked down 33 percent (40-of-120) of her attempts from three-point range.
Killeen finished behind Shawndra McDonald ’04 (482) and Lynne Unice ’94 (446) for third place on W&J’s all-time assists list with 440.
Killeen paced the Presidents with 336 points (12.0 ppg) this season after shooting 44 percent (123-of-279) from the field and 78 percent (73-of-94) from the free throw line. She also led W&J and the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) in assists with 96 (3.4 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.60).
The Presidents senior class comprised of Killeen, Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) and Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) ended their careers as the most successful class in school history with 90 wins.
Killeen has also been selected into the class of 2010 for the eighth annual Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s “So You Want To Be A Coach Program”. The two-and-a-half day workshop will be held April 2-4 in conjunction with the WBCA National Convention and the NCAA Division I Women’s “Final Four” in San Antonio, Texas.
The 24th-ranked W&J women’s basketball team saw its season come to a close in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Tournament last Friday after dropping a 71-48 decision against 19th-ranked Mount Union College. In her final game with the Presidents, Killeen scored 11 points, dished out two assists, and recorded a career-high seven steals.
-- PRESIDENTS --W&J EARNS NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BID; FACES MOUNT UNION FRIDAY AT MESSIAH (PA)
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team has been awarded an at-large bid for the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament and will face Ohio Athletic Conference Champion Mount Union College on Friday evening at 5:00 pm.
The game will be played at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa. Messiah hosts Neumann (Pa.) in the second game Friday evening at Brubaker Auditorium.
Washington & Jefferson is making its seventh tournament appearance (1995, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009); however, the Presidents are still searching for their first postseason victory. W&J dropped an 87-64 decision in last year’s opening round at Hope (Mich.).
Mount Union is making its fourth appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament and its first since advancing to the 1998 Final Four. The Purple Raiders own an 11-3 record in the NCAA Tournament and also participated in 1995 and 1996. The 1996 squad lost to Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the national championship game.
The Presidents (23-4) and Purple Raiders (24-4) will meet for the sixth time in history with Mount Union winning four of the previous contests. The last meeting occurred in the W&J Holiday Inn Classic on Nov. 18, 2006, and MUC recorded a 46-41 victory.
W&J’s three seniors, Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon), Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) and Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City), combined for 15 points and 14 rebounds in the 2006 loss. Mount Union does not have any players on the 2009-10 roster who played in that contest. W&J’s lone win in the series came 25 years ago, a 74-60 triumph in Washington, Pa., on Jan. 24, 1985.
Killeen has paced W&J all season and was selected as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She averages 12.0 points, 3.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting a career-best 45 percent (119-of-267) from the field. Gibson contributed 11.0 points and 9.7 rebounds and is the first women’s basketball player in school history to amass 1,000 points and rebounds during her career.
The Purple Raiders, winners of eight of their last nine games, also feature a balanced scoring attack as Rosa LaMattina leads three double figure scorers at 11.6 points. She also adds 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 steals per contest.
Friday’s first-round winners will meet on the same court Saturday evening (7:00 pm) for the second-round contest.
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W&J’S KILLEEN NAMED PAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR; THREE OTHERS RECEIVE ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS (3/1)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College senior point guard Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) {right} is the 2010 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, while seniors Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) and Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) and freshman Alyssa Oursler (Middletown, Md./Middletown) are recognized as All-PAC performers.
Killeen averages 12.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. The 5-foot-5 senior is eighth on the W&J all-time scoring list with 1,178 career points. In 112 career games, she is shooting 40 percent (401-of-993) from the field and 86 percent (337-of-392) from the free throw line.
In addition, she is nine assists shy of moving into third place on the all-time assists list at W&J with 438 assists (3.9 apg).
Killeen, a four-year starter and four-time all-conference selection, has posted 19 double-digit scoring performances this season, including a season-high 24-point effort against Grove City on December 5th in the Henry Memorial Center.
Killeen was also a key member of the 2007-08 squad who finished the season with an overall record of 23-7 and an ECAC South Division Championship. She was selected as the ECAC MVP after scoring 46 points, including a career-best 25 in the championship game against Lebanon Valley.
After collecting a 66-65 victory against Bethany in the PAC quarterfinals, Killeen, Gibson and Smith became the most successful class in the 35-year history of W&J women’s basketball with 90 career wins.
Gibson, who earned first-team laurels for a second consecutive season, is averaging 11.0 points and 9.7 rebounds. The 6-foot-0 forward, who leads the program in career appearances (115) and starts (113), became the first player in W&J history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds this winter.
She collected her 1,000th career point during W&J’s 61-57 victory over Thomas More on January 7th and grabbed her 1,000th career rebound two days later in a 65-51 triumph over Westminster. Gibson currently stands at 1,156 points and a school-record 1,118 rebounds.
Gibson currently ranks 15th all-time in NCAA Division III history with 37 career double-double performances. In addition, she also tied her single-game high in rebounding (22) during W&J’s four-point triumph over Thomas More earlier this season.
Smith and Oursler, who each received honorable-mention recognition, have played and started in every game for the Red & Black this season.
Smith has scored 230 points (8.5 ppg) and leads the PAC from three-point range, shooting 42 percent (54-of-130). She became the all-time three-point leader at W&J earlier this season and currently has drained 202 career triples in 114 career appearances. The Presidents are 45-7 when Smith connects on two or more three-pointers in a game. She has bucketed 875 career points.
The 5-foot-5 shooting guard has tallied nine double-digit scoring efforts this season, including a season-best 18-point performance against Thiel on January 30th.
Oursler is third on the team in scoring this season (10.0 ppg) and leads the league from the free throw line, shooting 90 percent (61-of-68). She is also second on the squad with 3.9 rebounds.
The 5-foot-10 guard posted a season-best 20 point performance against Geneva on January 23rd, and has tallied double-digit scoring efforts 14 different times this season. In addition, she also became just the fourth freshman since 2000 to surpass the 250-point mark. Oursler has produced 271 points through W&J’s first 27 games.
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W&J POINT GUARD SELECTED TO WBCA NATIONAL PROGRAM (2/23)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College senior point guard Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) has been selected into the class of 2010 for the eighth annual Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s “So You Want To Be A Coach Program”.
The two-and-a-half day workshop will be held April 2-4 in conjunction with the WBCA National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. The 2010 class marks the largest in the eight years of the program and is sponsored by the WBCA, the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion, NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, and the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics.
The “So You Want To Be A Coach Program” was designed to increase the amount of women in the coaching profession, with an emphasis on female minorities by providing a workshop based on educational and professional principles to help those interested in the field. Each participant is selected based on their academics, contributions to women’s basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.
“The WBCA continues to remain committed to the development of women’s basketball coaches and the So You Want To Be A Coach program has seen such a positive uptick over the last eight years,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “The WBCA will continue to make strides in this program and is dedicated to helping diversify the women’s game.”
Killeen is one of 78 student-athletes chosen from NCAA Division I, II and III colleges and universities. She is a four-year starter for the Presidents and, along with her senior teammates, is tied with the 2009 senior class for the most victories during a career (89).
Killeen has played in 110 career games and has made 109 starts. She is tied for eighth place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,147 career points and is third with 433 career assists.
The 5-foot-5 point guard is also on pace to finish among the top 10 free shooters in NCAA Division III history. Killeen has made 328-of-381 career free throws (86.1 percent). She has also added 352 rebounds and 178 steals.
Killeen is a three-time Second Team All-PAC performer. She is also a 2009 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District selection who boasts a 3.49 grade-point average as an English major and sociology minor. Killeen is a six-time Dean’s List student.
The coaching lessons shared with these participants will assist in identifying, recruiting and retaining minority women in the profession of coaching. At this year’s workshop, the participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn from some high level professionals such as University of Oregon assistant coach Keila Whittington, St. Louis University head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller, University of Alabama at Birmingham head coach Audra Smith, and many others. The So You Want To Be A Coach program is made possible thanks to the NCAA Matching Grants for Advancement of Minority Women Coaches.
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W&J CLIMBS FOUR SPOTS IN BOTH NATIONAL POLLS (2/23)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team elevated four positions and ranks 17th in the USA Today/ESPN WBCA Top 25 poll released on Wednesday. In addition, the Presidents also gained four spots in the D3hoops.com Top 25 and are now 18th.
The USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll is voted on by a board of nine head coaches at NCAA Division III institutions, while the D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country.
Amherst (Mass.) is the No. 1 ranked team in both polls. The WBCA and D3hoops.com also agree on their 2-5 teams: Kean (N.J.), Illinois Wesleyan, Hope (Mich.) and George Fox (Ore.).
The second-seeded Presidents will host seventh-seeded Bethany College in a quarterfinal contest of the 2010 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament tonight (Feb. 23) at 7:00 pm at the Henry Memorial Center.
The top-seeded Thomas More College Saints, who rank 16th in both national polls, will take on No. 8 Thiel in another quarterfinal game. Other quarterfinal contests include: No. 3 Grove City vs. No. 6 Chatham and No. 4 Westminster vs. No. 5 Waynesburg.
The top seed remaining will host the semifinal and championship rounds on Friday, February 26th (6:00 pm and 8:00 pm) and Saturday, February 27th (2:00 pm). The winner of the championship game will receive the league’s automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
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W&J BASKETBALL TEAMS EXCEL NATIONALLY IN FREE THROW SHOOTING (2/16)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — The 20th-ranked Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team has taken over the top spot in the NCAA Division III statistical rankings for free throw shooting. The Presidents rank first among 424 Division III squads at 78 percent (288-of-370).
Ironically, the W&J men’s squad (10-13 overall, 5-5 PAC) is also achieving great success at the free throw line as it ranks second out of 404 NCAA Division III teams in the same category.
The men shoot exactly 80 percent (444-of-555) from the foul line, trailing only Wisconsin Oshkosh’s 80.9 percent accuracy (382-of-472).
In addition, freshman guard Alyssa Oursler (Middletown, Md./Middletown) is fourth among Division III free throw shooters. She has made 58-of-63 (.921) attempts for the Presidents (20-3 overall, 10-2 PAC).
The W&J senior trio of Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic), Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) and Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) have also played an integral role in the Presidents’ success at the foul line, combining to shoot 80 percent (141-of-177).
Killeen is on pace to finish her career as one of the top ten free throw shooters in the NCAA Division III history. The 5-foot-5 senior is a career 86 percent (324-of-375) shooter from the free throw line. Angel Hall (Anderson, Ind. ’04) holds the Division III career record, connecting on 89.5 percent (323-of-361), while seven other players finished their careers at or above 86 percent.
The men's team is paced at the free throw line by junior guard Paul Matthews (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem). Matthews is 49th among NCAA Division III free throw shooters at 85.4 percent (76-of-89). The Presidents boast four of the PAC's top five shooters from the foul line.
Both W&J squads will conclude the home portion of their regular-season schedules tomorrow evening in the Henry Memorial Center. The women’s game, part of the 2010 WBCA “Pink Zone” initiative, tips off at 6:00 pm, while the men’s contest starts 25 minutes following the conclusion of the opening game.
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W&J TO HOST "PINK ZONE" NIGHT WEDNESDAY AT HENRY MEMORIAL CENTER (2/15)
The Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team hosts local-rival Waynesburg University in at 6:00 pm Wednesday evening.
The game is part of the national "Pink Zone" initiative by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The "Pink Zone" is a global, unified effort for the WBCA's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.
Fans are encouraged to wear pink clothing for Wednesday's doubleheader and all admission proceeds will be sent to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. The teams will also shoot into rims with pink nets and pink-related items will be found throughout the gymnasium.
Whether you wear a pink ribbon, a pink-shirt or make a donation, you can make a difference Wednesday night at the Henry Memorial Center. Let's all be a part of finding an answer.
For more information on the WBCA's Pink Zone, please click here.
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W&J’S MAGGIE GIBSON NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT (2/4)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College senior forward Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) was selected to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA College Division Academic All-District Women’s Basketball Team on Thursday morning. As a first-team selection, Gibson now advances to the Academic All-America ballot.
With the honor, Gibson becomes the first three-time Academic All-District honoree in the 35-year history of the W&J women’s basketball program. She received second-team laurels last season and garnered third-team recognition as a sophomore. Saint Vincent’s Brittany Sedlock is the only other player honored from the PAC as a third-team selection.
The Academic All-District 2 squad includes all women’s basketball players in NCAA Division II, Division III or NAIA in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. There are eight district teams as voted on by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Gibson majors in business administration at Washington & Jefferson and owns a 3.67 grade-point average. She has started all 20 games for the Presidents and leads the team in numerous statistical categories, including points (11.8 ppg), rebounds (10.3 rpg), field goal percentage (.494) and blocked shots (17).
She became the 11th member of the 1,000 point club at W&J in the Presidents’ 61-57 victory over Thomas More on January 7th and then became the first player in school history to tally 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points in a career after pulling in her 1,000th board in W&J’s 65-51 victory over Westminster two days later.
A four-year starter, Gibson has made 108 appearances, including 106 starts. She has produced 1,095 points and 1,060 rebounds and is a career 54 percent field goal shooter (424-of-779).
Last season, Gibson earned D3hoops.com Second Team All-Region laurels. She was also an ECAC All-Star and the 2009 YWCA of Westmoreland County Sportswoman of the Year. Gibson, a leading candidate for the 2010 PAC Player of the Year award, has been selected to the all-conference first team in each of the past two seasons and was a second-team choice as a freshman.
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W&J WOMEN’S HOOPS SECOND IN NCAA REGIONAL POLL (2/3)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – The NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Committee released its first 2010 regional poll on Wednesday and Washington & Jefferson College is the Great Lakes Region’s No. 2 team.
The committee ranks the top six eligible teams from each region, with the exception of the Northeast region, which ranks 10 teams.
Hope (Mich.) is the No. 1 ranked team in the Great Lakes Region. The Flying Dutch, who defeated W&J in the opening round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, boast an 18-1 overall record, including a 15-0 mark in the region.
W&J (17-2 overall, 16-1 in-region) is second followed by Thomas More (17-2, 17-1), Calvin (18-2, 13-1), DePauw (17-3, 14-2) and Baldwin-Wallace (15-4, 13-3).
Washington & Jefferson has earned four bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament in the past seven seasons. W&J is hoping to secure its eighth consecutive 20-plus win season.
W&J is ranked 18th nationally by the WBCA USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll and 20th by D3hoops.com.
The Presidents own the nation’s 15th-best winning percentage and are led by the senior trio of Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic), Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) and Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City). The senior class has posted an 84-23 record (.785) during their four years on campus.
Smith is 37th in NCAA Division III in three-point field goal percentage (.398), while Killeen owns the nation’s 43rd-best assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.59). Gibson, who averages a double-double is 64th in the nation in rebounding (10.2 rpg).
Prior to Saturday’s nationally-ranked clash at Thomas More (1:00 pm), the Presidents must contend with Saint Vincent (15-4) Wednesday evening at the Henry Memorial Center at 6:00 pm. W&J edged SVC 55-53 earlier this season in Latrobe.
Selections for the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship will be webcast on NCAA.com Monday, March 1 at 12:30 pm.
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W&J CONTINUES TO CLIMB DIVISION III WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POLLS (2/2)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team has moved up two spots to No. 18 in the latest WBCA USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll. In addition, W&J elevated two spots to No. 20 in this week’s D3hoops.com rankings.
The Presidents continued to climb both polls after earning a pair of Presidents’ Athletic Conference victories last week, defeating Grove City (61-58) and Thiel (69-34).
The USA TODAY/ESPN voting committee is made up of nine head coaches at Division III institutions, while the D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country.
W&J (17-2, 8-1 PAC) trails league-leading and Thomas More (17-2, 9-1 PAC) by a half a game in the PAC women’s standings. The Saints are 15th in the USAToday/ESPN poll and ranked 17th by D3hoops.com.
The two squads are set to meet in Crestview Hills, Ky., on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm in the Connor Convocation Center. The outcome of the contest will go a long way in determining the regular-season PAC champion as well as the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
W&J must first focus on Saint Vincent Wednesday at 6:00 pm at the Henry Memorial Center. The Bearcats owns the league’s third-best overall record at 15-4, but are a provisional member of NCAA Division III.
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W&J ELEVATES IN A PAIR OF NATIONAL POLLS (1/27)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team has bumped up two spots up to No. 20 in this weeks Women's Basketball Coaches Association USA Today/ESPN Poll. In addition, the Presidents moved up one spot to No. 22 the D3hoops.com Top 25.
The Presidents are riding a season-long, eight-game win streak and elevated in the rankings after winning a pair of Presidents’ Athletic Conference contests last week, defeating PAC-rival Bethany (47-37) and Geneva (88-74).
The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country.
W&J (15-2, 6-1 PAC) trails league-leading and 16th-ranked Thomas More (15-2, 7-1 PAC) by a half a game in the PAC women’s standings. W&J defeated the Saints (61-57) on January 7th in Washington and the two squads are set to meet again on February 6th in Kentucky at 1:00 pm.
The Presidents travel to Grove City on Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm and host Thiel on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm in the Henry Memorial Center.
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SMITH BECOMES CAREER THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL LEADER (1/12)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College senior shooting guard Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) recently became the women’s basketball program’s all-time leading three-point shooter.
Smith has made 177 three-pointers in 100 career games at W&J. She set the school record at the 14:21 mark in the first half against Thomas More on Thursday.
She passed Shawndra McDonald ’04 who held the previous record with 175 career three-point makes.
Since arriving on campus in 2006, Smith has been the Presidents’ most consistent threat from beyond the arc. She fired in 28 treys as a freshman, 61 as a sophomore, 59 as a junior and currently has 29 this season.
Smith has scored 766 total points and is a career 37 percent (177-of-480) shooter from three-point range.
The 5-foot-5 guard has connected on five or more three-pointers in a game 11 times, including a single-game record eight triples in the opening round of the 2008 ECAC Tournament against Moravian. Smith, who drained 8-of-12 three point attempts in the contest, helped the Presidents earn an 86-76 victory after finishing the game with 24 points.
For the second time in her career, Smith currently holds a 10-game streak with at least one three-point make. She began the current stretch with two three-pointers in the Presidents’ 53-39 victory against Allegheny on November 25th. Since that game, she is shooting 43 percent (26-of-61) from beyond the arc.
Her first streak began on December 1, 2008 against Grove City and lasted until January 14, 2009 against Saint Vincent. In that 10-game run, she also shot 43 percent (25-of-58) from three point range.
Smith, who has scored 121 points this season, leads the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in three-pointers made (29) and is seventh in three-point percentage (39 percent). As of January 10th, Smith ranked 61st out of 500 in NCAA Division III in three point percentage.
Smith along with senior classmates Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) and Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) need 12 more victories to become the most successful class in school history. The trio currently owns a 78-23 record since arriving on campus, including a 36-8 mark in conference play. Last year’s senior class (comprised of Emily Hays, Lindsey Hyre and Veronica Kust) currently holds the distinction with 89 career wins.
The Presidents continue PAC action tomorrow evening, traveling to Chatham University for a 7:00 pm contest.
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W&J WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RETURNS TO USA TODAY TOP 25 POLL (1/12)
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team returned to the USA Today/ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches’ poll on Tuesday following a release from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The Presidents are the nation’s 25th-ranked team.
W&J (11-2) is in the poll for the first time since week two (Dec. 1). The Presidents were ranked 21st before dropping out after suffering a 72-70 upset home loss to Grove City on Dec. 5th.
The Presidents have won four consecutive games under Head Coach Jina DeRubbo, including Thursday’s 61-57 victory over Thomas More. The Saints are 13th in the latest USA Today/ESPN poll and 19th by D3hoops.com. Washington & Jefferson is listed among others receiving votes by the website devoted to national coverage of NCAA Division III basketball.
DeRubbo won the 250th game of her career Jan. 5th at Saint Vincent. She holds a 252-92 record (.733) in her 13th year as a collegiate head coach, including a 121-35 mark (.776) at Washington & Jefferson.
Illinois Wesleyan is the top-ranked team in both polls. Amherst (Mass.), Kean (N.J.), Washington (Mo.) and Hope (Mich.) round out the USA Today/ESPN top five teams. The D3hoops.com Top 25 poll lists Amherst, Washington, Kean and Marymount after Illinois Wesleyan.
The Presidents look for their second five-game win streak of the season Wednesday evening when traveling to Pittsburgh for a 7:00 pm PAC game at Chatham.
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GIBSON NAMED PAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AFTER REACHING CAREER MILESTONES (1/11)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College senior women’s basketball player Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) was named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s basketball player of the week on Monday after becoming the first player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
She edged close to the milestone marks early in the week after tallying 10 points and 14 rebounds during a 55-53 victory against Saint Vincent Tuesday in Latrobe.
Gibson then rose to the occasion and had one of her best career games in the Presidents’ biggest game of the season, a 61-57 come-from-behind victory against 14th-ranked Thomas More Thursday at the Henry Memorial Center.
She helped W&J earn the victory after scoring 16 points, grabbing 22 rebounds and blocking six shots. She became the 11th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points after knocking down a baseline jumper with 6:11 remaining in the opening half and also tied a single-game high with the 22 rebounds.
Gibson’s week was not finished; however, as she grabbed her 1,000th career rebound in the first half of Saturday’s 65-51 victory against Westminster. She finished the game with 20 points and eight boards.
On the week, she scored 46 points (15.3 ppg) and collected 44 rebounds (14.7 rpg), while shooting 47 percent (17-of-36) from the field and 80 percent (12-of-15) from the free throw. Gibson also tallied six blocks and two steals in 106 total minutes.
Gibson continues to be the only player in the PAC to average a double-double with 169 points (13.0 ppg) and 145 rebounds (11.2 rpg).
She leads the team in field goal percentage, connecting on 50 percent (60-of-120) of her attempts and is having a career year at the free throw line at 82 percent (49-of-60).
In 101 career games at W&J, Gibson has scored 1,028 points and grabbed exactly 1,000 rebounds. The 6-foot-0 senior, who has started 99 games for the Red & Black, is a 55 percent (396-of-721) career shooter from the field. She has also totaled 165 assists, 108 steals and 53 blocks in her career at W&J.
She also earned the conference’s first player of the week award earlier this season on November 23rd.
Gibson and the Presidents will return to action on Wednesday evening, traveling to Chatham for a 7:00 pm contest.
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W&J DUO REACHES CAREER MILESTONES (1/11)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College senior women’s basketball players Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) and Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) both reached career milestones last week.
Both players surpassed the 1,000-point mark, while Gibson also became the first player in W&J women’s basketball history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Gibson and Killeen are the 11th and 12th players in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
Gibson, who became the school’s all-time leading rebounder on December 29th in Irvine, California, reached 1,000 points during W&J’s 61-57 come-from-behind victory against nationally-ranked Thomas More on January 7th. She grabbed her 1,000th rebound in Saturday’s 65-51 triumph over Westminster.
Gibson, who was recognized as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference women’s basketball player of the week on Monday, opened the week with 10 points and 14 rebounds in a 55-53 victory against Saint Vincent Tuesday in Latrobe. She then rose to the occasion and had one of the best games of her career in the Presidents’ four-point upset over the Saints after scoring 16 points, grabbing 22 rebounds and blocking six shots. She finished the week with a 20-point, eight-rebound against Westminster.
Killeen beat the first-half buzzer on Saturday for her 1,000th career point.
On the week, Killeen fired in 21 points during the SVC victory, 13 points against Thomas More and 11 points in Saturday’s win over Westminster. She shot 45 percent (18-of-40) from the floor and knocked down 7-of-7 from the free throw line on the week. She also tallied nine assists, nine rebounds and three steals in 105 total minutes.
Saturday’s game marked the 26th time that the teammates both tallied double-digit scoring efforts in the same game.
Gibson, Killeen and classmate Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) need 12 more victories to become the most successful class in school history. The trio currently owns a 78-23 record since arriving on campus, including a 36-8 mark in conference play. Last year’s senior class (comprised of Emily Hays, Lindsey Hyre and Veronica Kust) currently holds the distinction with 89 career wins.
In 101 career games at W&J, Gibson has scored 1,028 points and grabbed exactly 1,000 rebounds. The 6-foot-0 senior, who has started 99 games for the Red & Black, is a 55 percent (396-of-721) career shooter from the field. She has also totaled 165 assists, 108 steals and 53 blocks. Gibson is a two-time First Team All-PAC selection. She also earned second-team laurels as a freshman.
Killeen has appeared in 98 career games for the Red & Black and has started 97 times. The three-time Second Team All-PAC performer has scored 1,004 points (10.2 ppg), passed out 387 assists (3.9 apg) and grabbed 311 rebounds (3.2 rpg). She is shooting 40 percent (341-of-863) from the floor and 87 percent (296-of-339) from the free throw line during her career.
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W&J’S SMITH NAMED TO SURF CITY CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM (1/5)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College senior women’s basketball player Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) was named to the Surf City Classic All-Tournament Team last week in Irvine, California.
The Presidents (8-2, 1-1 PAC) opened the two-day event with a 63-59 loss against 13th ranked Wisconsin-River Falls on December 29th. Smith led W&J with 17 points after firing in a game-high five three pointers. She then helped the Red & Black secure a 59-51 victory against SUNY-Purchase the next evening after pouring in a team-high 16 points (4-of-10 three-point shooting).
During W&J’s first 10 games, Smith has scored 106 points (10.6 ppg) and is shooting 41 percent (37-of-90) from the field, including 41 percent (25-of-61) accuracy from three point range. She has also dished out 19 assists and is a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
Smith has appeared in 97 career games for the Red & Black and has started 67 times. She has tallied 751 career points, shooting 38 percent (259-of-681) from the field and 37 percent (173-of-466) from beyond the arc.
W&J will continue Presidents’ Athletic Conference play this week with three league games. The Presidents travel to Saint Vincent tonight (1/5) for a 6:00 pm contest, before hosting No. 14 Thomas More on Thursday evening at 6:00 pm and Westminster on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm in the Henry Memorial Center.
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W&J CRACKS D3HOOPS.COM AND WBCA USA TODAY/ESPN TOP 25 POLLS (12/1)
WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team has entered the D3hoops.com and the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 polls following a perfect 4-0 start to the season. The Presidents are 19th in the D3hoops.com poll and 21st in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) USA Today/ESPN Top 25.
The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country, while the WBCA USA Today/ESPN Top 25 is voted on by a board of nine head coaches from Division III institutions.
The Presidents entered the rankings following their 56-48 victory over then No. 14 Capital University on November 20th at the Henry Memorial Center.
Presidents’ Athletic Conference rival Thomas More also garnered national recognition and rank 13th in both polls.
Illinois Wesleyan is currently No. 1 in the D3Hoops.com poll, while Hope College earned the top spot in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25.
Following the victory over Capital, W&J reeled off two more victories against Albion (55-42) and Allegheny (53-39) and are perfect through the first four games for just the second time in the program’s 32-year history. The 2002-03 squad opened the season with a 7-0 mark before falling to The College of New Jersey (73-47).
Senior forward Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg C.C.) has led the Presidents during the first two weeks of the season, averaging 14.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest, while freshman guard Alyssa Oursler (Middletown, Md./Middletown) is also averaging double figures (12.0 ppg).
The Presidents will host Geneva tomorrow evening in the Henry Memorial Center at 6:00 pm, but the game will not count towards W&J’s PAC record due to GC’s provisional status in the NCAA Division III.
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W&J’S GIBSON EARNS PAC’S FIRST WEEKLY HONOR (11/23)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College senior forward Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) is this week’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.
Gibson earned the award for the opening week of the season after averaging 15.3 points and 11.0 rebounds in three Presidents’ victories.
The Presidents (3-0) opened the season with a 70-65 victory over Case Western Reserve and picked up victories during the 2009 W&J Women’s Basketball Tip-Off Classic over No. 22 Capital (56-48) and Albion (55-42).
Gibson played a vital role in W&J’s 56-48 upset of No. 22 Capital on Friday evening after amassing 20 rebounds and 16 points. She reached the 20-rebound mark for the second time in her career. Gibson also collected 22 boards on March 8th, 2008, in the semifinals of the ECAC Tournament against Gwynedd-Mercy.
The senior opened the 2009-10 campaign with 14 points and nine rebounds against Case Western Reserve and closed out the week with a 16-point, four-rebound effort against Albion on Saturday afternoon.
In 91 career games at W&J, Gibson has scored 905 points and collected 888 rebounds. She is on pace to become the first player in program history to eclipse 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
The Presidents return to action on Tuesday evening when they travel to Meadville, Pa., to take on North Coast Athletic Conference member Allegheny at 6:00 pm.
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W&J WOMEN FAVORED IN PAC PRESEASON POLL (10/28)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women’s basketball team was predicted to win the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship according to the preseason poll released on Wednesday afternoon following the 2009-2010 PAC media day conference call.
The W&J men were selected second in the preseason poll behind defending PAC champion Thomas More. Voters in the poll included head coaches, sports information directors and members of the media.
The Presidents garnered 179 points and 14 first-place votes in the women’s poll, narrowly edging Thomas More (178, 10 first-place votes) for the top spot. Grove City placed third in the poll with 117 points followed by Westminster (96.5), Bethany (95), Waynesburg (91), Chatham (59.5) and Thiel (48).
Thomas More won last year’s conference championship after defeating W&J, 59-49, on February 28th in Kentucky. The Saints finished with a 28-3 overall record, while the Presidents broke the school-record for wins in a season after finishing 24-5. Both W&J and TMC were eliminated from the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament by Hope College (Mich.). The Presidents, who received an at-large bid into the tournament, fell to the Flying Dutch in the opening round, 87-64, while the Saints were knocked out by HC in the third round by a score of 67-51.
Sixth-year Head Coach Jina DeRubbo will look for the senior trio of forward Maggie Gibson (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg C.C.), point guard Kennan Killeen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) and shooting guard Stephanie Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) to lead Washington & Jefferson this winter. Gibson contributed 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game last season, while Killeen averaged 10.3 points and 4.0 assists. Smith, who led the team in three pointers with 59, added 8.8 points per contest.
Gibson and Killeen, who enter the season with 859 and 853 career points, respectively, are on pace to become the newest members of the 1,000-point club at W&J. Gibson, who led the conference with 299 rebounds last year, can also become the all-time leading rebounder in W&J history with 88.
Thomas More accumulated 15 of a possible 23 first-place votes on the men’s side and led the poll with 147 points. The Saints won the PAC Tournament last season, but fell in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Capital.
W&J, last year’s ECAC Division III Souther Tournament champions, earned 115 points and four first-place votes in the poll. Bethany (112, three first-place votes) was selected third, while Grove City (89 points, one first-place vote), Westminster (88), Thiel (56) and Waynesburg (37) rounded out the preseason predictions.
Head Coach Glenn Gutierrez lost four key seniors from last year’s squad, but returns a four-man nucleus of seniors point guard Matt Drakeley (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and swingman Albert Varacallo (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) and juniors Brian Felker (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) and Paul Matthews (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem).
Drakeley averaged 7.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game a year ago, while Varacallo averaged 10.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Felker and Matthews will also be contributing factors this season. Felker is the leading returner scorer from a year ago, averaging 11.3 per game, while Matthews, who was a midseason transfer from Hampden-Sydney last year has impressed the coaching staff early on in the preseason.
The W&J women open the season on Monday, Nov. 16th, hosting Case Western Reserve at 6:00 pm. The Presidents’ men open play the same night with an 8:00 pm contest against Penn State-Altoona.
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2009-10 WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE SEASON PREVIEW (10/27)
After earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament last season, the 2009-2010 Washington & Jefferson women’s basketball team is eager to build upon last year’s success, bring back the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship, and record the program’s first-ever playoff victory.
The Presidents posted a school-record 24 victories last season, including a 12-2 record in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. W&J was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the opening round, dropping an 87-64 decision at Hope. The Flying Dutch then advanced all the way to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Sixth-year Head Coach Jina DeRubbo, who holds a 241-90 career record in 13 seasons at the Division III level, has amassed 110 total victories at W&J versus only 33 losses. DeRubbo has the second-most wins in the program’s 32-year history, trailing only current assistant coach Vicki Staton, who amassed 279 wins in her 25-year career at the helm.
The Presidents’ starting five will feature three seniors, including three-year starters and three-time All-PAC selections forward Maggie Gibson and point guard Kennan Killeen {pictured}. Gibson earned first team All-PAC honors the past two seasons after garnering second-team laurels as a freshman. Killeen has been recognized on the second team each of her first three seasons. Two-year starter and sharpshooting guard Stephanie Smith, rounds out the list of seniors for the 2009-2010 squad.
“These three seniors have a major impact on the success of this program,” said DeRubbo. “They have become leaders on and off the floor and will do whatever it takes to put us in position to win the conference and make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.”
Killeen, who amassed a team-high 821 minutes last season, scored 298 points (10.3 ppg) and dished out 116 assists (4.0 apg), proving to be one of the top floor generals in the region. She shot 40 percent (106-of-263) from the field and 86 percent (75-of-87) from the charity stripe, while grabbing 85 rebounds for the Red & Black.
DeRubbo expects Killeen to maintain her consistency on the floor, but wouldn’t be surprised if the senior opens up some eyes across the nation with the type of numbers she is capable accumulating.
“I truly believe Kennan has emerged as one of the top point guards in the country,” stated DeRubbo. “She is a leader on the floor at all times and is not afraid to have the ball in her hands when the game is on the line.”
Gibson, who led the conference with 299 rebounds last year, will look to make her presence felt in the low post once again. She can become the all-time leading rebounder in W&J history with 88. Also within Gibson’s reach is the single-season rebounding mark of 318, which was set by Heather Dawkins. Gibson has produced the second and third best rebounding seasons in history after pulling down 297 as a freshman and 299 last season.
The 6-foot-1 forward closed out the 2008-2009 campaign with 285 points (9.8 ppg) and averaged 10.3 rebounds. With 88 career games under her belt, Gibson is primed for her best collegiate season.
“Maggie’s work ethic and intensity will once again make her one of the toughest matchup problems in the PAC,” said DeRubbo. “Her ability to make her teammates work hard and perform at a high level is a testament to the type of leader she has become.”
Killeen and Gibson aim to become the 12th and 13th members of the 1,000 career point club. Gibson can reach the milestone with 141 points this season, while Killeen needs 147.
“Both of these women have worked extremely hard to put themselves in position to reach that milestone,” responded DeRubbo “Maggie is a well-rounded post player and Kennan has the ability to be a threat to score every time she touches the ball.”
Smith returns to the starting lineup as the team’s leading three-point threat from last season. She was second in the PAC, shooting 39 percent (59-of-153) from beyond the arc.
“Stephanie’s ability to hit open shots from the outside make Kennan and Maggie that much better. She makes our inside game stronger, because if a team doubles Maggie, Stephanie can beat you from the outside.”
The remaining 10 spots on the Presidents’ roster will be filled by two juniors (Catlyn Kriston and Jamie McKitrick), five sophomores (Blair Cotton, Ashley Kirkpatrick, Vanessa Rivera, Kayla Strimel and Courtney Walsh) and three freshmen (Emily Abraham, Alyssa Oursler and Erin Wallace).
Kriston and McKitrick return after filling key reserve roles on last year’s squad. Kriston is the squad's second-leading three point shooter from last season, hitting 21-of-60 attempts from beyond the arc. McKitrick played 10.8 minutes per contest and averaged 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds.
Rivera and Kirkpatrick return as the leading sophomores, averaging 13.9 and 8.9 minutes per contest, respectively. Rivera played a key role as Killeen’s backup in the backcourt, while Kirkpatrick filled in for 2009 PAC MVP Emily Hays. Rivera contributed 60 assists and 30 steals and Kirkpatrick averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
Cotton, Strimel and Walsh saw limited action a year ago, but are all expected to see increased playing time during their second varsity seasons.
The Presidents open the season with a tough non-conference stretch, hosting Case Western Reserve (11/16), No. 22 Capital (11/20) and Albion (11/21), before traveling to Allegheny (11/24). W&J opens PAC play on December 2nd with a game against Geneva at 6:00 pm at the Henry Memorial Center. The Presidents will also travel across the country during the holidays to compete in the Surf City Classic (Dec. 29-30) in Irvine, Calif.